Lives at risk from cutbacks in forklift training
1 min read
More than half of those who regularly work with forklift trucks in Britain are not sufficiently trained to do so, according to the Fork Lift Truck Association (FLTA).
The organisation is concerned about the effect this shortfall could have in the workplace and has decided to make forklift training the focus of this year's national safety conference, which takes place later this year.
FLTA chief executive David Ellison said: "It is an employer's duty of care to provide appropriate training and to regularly assess individual skill levels. By not prioritising training, some companies are knowingly placing their workers and businesses at risk.
"Neglecting this responsibility unnecessarily puts employees in genuine danger. Forklift trucks may perform an unparalleled amount of good in British workplaces, but in the wrong hands they are potentially lethal.
"Every day at least one worker in Britain is hospitalised with serious injuries. Sadly, in the vast majority of cases, the accident could have been avoided with suitable training. Clearly operators need to be properly trained but other employees are at risk if they work near to fork lift trucks, and they need awareness training too."
The FLTA conference takes place at Warwick University on 21 September. Last year's event sold out: for details see www.fork-truck.org.uk.
